How I Successfully Got Yeztugo Injectable PrEP in Maryland (Step-by-Step Experience)
As a Marylander, I wanted to share my experience getting Yeztugo (lenacapavir) injectable PrEP because there’s VERY little information out there about how the process actually works.
I originally thought this would be impossible because most regular PCP offices and even some infectious disease offices won’t do “buy & bill” for this medication due to the cost. One infectious disease doctor in Clinton, MD actually pointed me in the right direction and recommended going through a county health department PrEP/STI clinic instead.
What ended up working for me:
- Howard County Health Department PrEP/STI Clinic
- Intake appointment + repeat HIV/STI labs
- Insurance coordination through their staff
- CVS Specialty Pharmacy shipment directly to clinic
- Gilead Advancing Access copay card
- Medication shipped + administered within about 1-2 weeks after intake
Important things:
- Bring ID + insurance cards
- Be ready for updated HIV/STI testing even if you recently had labs elsewhere
- They may ask about Hepatitis B vaccination/immunity status
- Stay on your current oral PrEP until they instruct otherwise
- The process feels confusing at first but it DOES start moving once specialty pharmacy coordination begins
I was honestly shocked how quickly things moved once the prescription was processed. CVS Specialty shipped both the oral tablets and injection kit directly to the clinic and my copay ended up being $0.
Just got my first injection today 💉✨
Hopefully this helps another Marylander because I was digging through Reddit trying to figure this out myself a few weeks ago.